Photographic interlude

I am a great admirer of the French photographer Robert Doisneau whose photographs of Paris captured the spirit of the times in which his photos were taken. I used to have copies of Doisneau's work in my classroom when I was teaching and I have several books of his work.

This afternoon when I came out of church on a beautiful spring day and the faithful were gathered outside chatting I was reminded of two photos taken by Doisneau in Paris in 1945. The first is entitled Les bien-pensantes and the second Sortie de messe à Sceaux. (Sceaux is a suburb of Paris.) The difference between the photos in 1945 and the scene outside St. Joseph's in Bradford today was that there were many children and my heart felt as warm as the lunchtime sunshine.

After the Consecration of the wine today a child squealed as two others were giving their father the runaround. As our eldest daughter sat beside me with her two children and due to give birth to her third child any day now my heart rejoiced. 

A young Polish couple were waiting at the sacristy door after Mass with details of their beautiful little son, Aleksander, who is to be baptised in a couple of weeks. 

Deo gratias!

(Photos from Jean-Claude Gautrand's Icon book published by TASCHEN)

Reminder that we have two Corpus Christi Masses : Wednesday at St Winefride's at 6.00 p.m. and on Thursday at Clayton, St. Anthony's, at 9.30 a.m.

 

Trinity & Corpus Christi

 

This coming week sees two of the most glorious feasts of the entire Church year, Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is no longer a Holy Day of Obligation, but we have two Masses to celebrate this great feast.

Sunday - 30 May 1.00 p.m. St. Joseph's Pakington Street, where over the coming weeks two of the Masses will be followed by EF baptisms. Please remember to book for this Mass and to wear a mask unless you are exempt.

On Wednesday there will be a missa cantata (a first ever) at 6.00 p.m. at St. Winefride's, Wibsey in anticipation of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Many thanks to Mgr Grogan for offering to sing this Mass. No arm twisting necessary there!

On Thursday there will be Mass at St. Anthony's, Clayton, on the feast as it appears in the 1962 missal at 9.30 a.m. 

On Friday there will be the regular first Friday Mass at St. John the Evangelist, Buttershaw at 6.00 p.m.

I am also very pleased to report that one other priest in Bradford recently offered his first Mass in the old Rite and another is undertaking instruction which I hope will mean more public Masses in Bradford in yet more churches.

Deo gratias!

It was announced today that our former bishop, Archbishop Arthur Roche has been promoted to head the Congregation for Divine Worship following the retirement of Cardinal Sarah. As Bishop of Leeds Archbishop Roche was always very accommodating and never refused to see me or help me when I was the diocesan representative for the LMS.  I wish him every success and happiness in his new role. 

Pentecost

 

This weekend we celebrate the descent of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost Sunday and the birthday of the Church.

Mass on Sunday will be a missa cantata at St. Joseph's, Bradford at 1.00 p.m. Please remember to book at office.stjoseph.bradford@dioceseofleeds.org.uk 

Ascension

 This week marks the feast of the Ascension of our Lord into Glory.

Wednesday - 6.00 p.m. St. Winefride's, Wibsey, Bradford. Rogation Wednesday Mass of the Vigil of the Ascension.

Thursday - 5.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pakington Street, Bradford

Sunday - 1.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pakington Street, Bradford. Please book for this Mass. 

Masses this week

 We have four Masses this week:

Wednesday - 6.00 p.m. at St Winefride's, Wibsey. Bradford

Thursday - 9.30 a.m. at St Anthony's, Clayton, Bradford

Friday - 6.00 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist, Buttershaw, Bradford and  7.30 p.m. at St. Austin's, Wakefield. (Please book for the Wakefield Mass.)

Sunday - 1.00 p.m. at St. Joseph's, Pakington Street, Bradford. Please book in advance for this Mass.

The Mass at St. Patrick's, Elland on Saturday went very well. It is a beautiful church and the local parishioners were hospitable and helpful, making everybody feel very welcome. Fr. Hall's conferences were of the cerebral and spiritual standard we have come to expect and the invocations of St. John Eudes relating to St. Joseph recited before each of the the three conferences enabled us to focus our minds and hearts. The day concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  Thanks again to Fr. Michael for this wonderful opportunity to receive the indulgence attached to the the year of St. Joseph and for all his hard work.